Super sized shopping spots

A general view of the pirate ship and lake inside the West Edmonton Mall photographed on November 30, 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. BRUCE BENNETT, GETTY IMAGES

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The Dubal Mall at the Downtown Dubai complex on November 23, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. MIKE HEWITT, GETTY IMAGES

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In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, water shoots into the air accompanied by music as the musical fountain performs outside the new Morocco Mall near the coastal town of Casablanca. ABDELJALIL BOUNHAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, Moroccans throng the corridors of the new luxury Morocco Mall in Casablanca, Morocco. ABDELJALIL BOUNHAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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A general view of the skating rink inside the West Edmonton Mall photographed on November 30, 2011 in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. BRUCE BENNETT, GETTY IMAGES

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Grand Drive at the Dubai Mall at night. COURTESY OF THE DUBAI MALL

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The Dubai Mall, one of the biggest shopping malls in the world with over 1,200 shops on November 23, 2009 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. MIKE HEWITT, GETTY IMAGES

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In this photo taken Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, divers clean the two-story aquarium at the center of Morocco Mall near Casablanca. Inaugurated by popstar Jennifer Lopez in front of the cream of Moroccan society, Casablanca's first mega mall, complete with two-story-high aquarium, is dripping with glamour and luxury. ABDELJALIL BOUNHAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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The Golden Souk area of the Dubai Mall. COURTESY OF THE DUBAI MALL

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Palm trees are seen underneath an atrium at a new shopping mall in in Casablanca, Morocco, Thursday, Dec. 1, 2011. ABDELJALIL BOUNHAR, ASSOCIATED PRESS

With the rise of big-box stores and online shopping, malls have transformed from plain storefronts to complex entertainment hubs. Many of these economic centers now feature theaters, casinos and attractions to complement an impressive number of shops. Here is a look at some of the world's largest shopping complexes:

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, Dubai

The Dubai Mall includes 1,200 shops and in 2011 was the world's most visited shopping and leisure destination. Opened in 2008, it is the largest mall in the Middle East. Family attractions include the Dubai Aquarium and Discovery Center, KidZania, a children's "edu-tainment" center, SEGA Republic indoor theme park, and a 22-screen movie theater.

The world's largest shopping mall is the New South China Mall, Living City, which opened in 2005. The mall contains seven zones modeled on international cities and regions. A 1.3-mile canal with gondolas passes a replica of St. Mark's bell tower in the Venetian section, a scale version of the Arc de Triomphe sits in the Paris section, and other iconic features from Amsterdam, Rome, the Caribbean and California are found in the respective zones.

The old Grand Bazaar may be the city's best-known shopping spot (It's featured in the new James Bond movie, "Skyfall"), but for modern luxe, try the six-story Istanbul Cevahir Shopping and Entertainment Center. In the Sisli business district, it opened in 2005 and has 343 stores and 48 restaurants. The building's glass roof carries the second largest clock in the world, with 10-foot numerals. The entertainment center includes a puppet theater, a mini-roller coaster, a haunted ride, a carousel, a laser arena and a "4-D" theater.

Opened in 1981, the West Edmonton Mall is the largest in North America. Nearly 30 million visitors a year peruse some of the 800 stores along themed corridors including Europa Boulevard and Chinatown. Attractions include a skating rink, a casino, the World Waterpark and the Galaxyland amusement park. The mall also has an indoor saltwater lake with sea lions and a replica of the Santa Maria.

Opened in 2011, the luxury Morocco Mall is the largest shopping mall in Africa. Sleek and futuristic, it sits along the coastline and features more than 300 stores, an amusement park, and a two-story aquarium. Outside, a musical fountain, lush gardens and meditation pads beckon relaxation and thought. The winding halls were designed to parallel the alleys of the traditional outdoor souks, and Moroccan artisanal products can be found in the mall's own souk.

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